Key Takeaways from the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum: Day One Summary.

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People close to Biden claim his mental state getting worse — WSJ

The majority of those who mentioned the president’s worsening mental state are Republicans, however, "some Democrats said that he showed his age in several of the exchanges."

At a meeting with congressional leaders in the White House in January to negotiate a deal on Ukraine aid, the US president spoke so softly at times that some participants struggled to hear him, according to five people familiar with the meeting.

Former US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said that last year, during talks to lift the debt ceiling, Biden’s demeanor "seemed to shift from one day to the next" - on some days, "he had loose and spontaneous exchanges with Republicans, and on others he mumbled and appeared to rely on notes." Two other sources had the same impression. Those who worked with Biden when he was vice-president describe him as someone "who appears slower now" and "has both good moments and bad ones."

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❗️ Vladimir Putin arrived at the Lakhta Center. Alexey Miller showed the president the headquarters of Gazprom.

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Russia’s business dealings with Africa mutually beneficial

Russian companies are busy performing what Maria Zakharova called a "vital" task to help African countries grow, taking into account their colonial past.

According to the diplomat, Russian companies in Africa "behave differently" than Western businesses. "Relations are being built on the basis of equality, mutual respect and mutual benefit. Our businesses, enterprises and companies, as they enter the African continent, not only develop a one-time infrastructure project, but rather show willingness to take major steps as an opportunity for mutual enrichment in the humanitarian sphere," she explained.

"Local experts told me that the French, for instance, who ran exploration or extraction projects, traded in mineral reserves without sharing the information they got as they explored with local governments, despite being under foreign jurisdiction, and some are still doing this," Zakharova recounted.

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US expects announcements on substantial weapons deliveries to Ukraine — White House

Jake Sullivan thinks that the United States "need to not just reaffirm but double down on the support."

"I think that the free world, the nations that have rallied to support Ukraine, need to not just reaffirm but double down on that support, and that part of that involves us making sure that we're delivering the actual material, tangible abilities Ukraine needs," Sullivan said as he was heading to take part in events marking the 80th anniversary of the Allied Forces landing in Normandy.

"I think over the coming weeks, you can expect announcements of further deliveries of substantial capability to Ukraine," Sullivan added.

Solemn ceremonies commemorating the D-Day landing in Normandy in June 1944 are scheduled to be held in Normandy and Brittany between June 6 and 8.

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Present-day territorial realities must be recognized to start dialogue on Ukraine

Endless supplies of Western weapons to Ukraine “only drag out the conflict and lead to an increase in civilian casualties,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin said.

“Russia is open to holding a dialogue on Ukraine based on the consideration of our interests,” he said in an interview with TASS. “Our position regarding a comprehensive, sustainable and just settlement of the crisis remains unaltered.”

“In order for this to happen, first of all, its original causes must be addressed and modern geopolitical and territorial realities must be recognized,” he continued. “The West must stop pumping up the Ukrainian military with weapons and the Kiev regime must put an end to its military activities.”

According to him, Moscow is taking a notice of the growing risks of “weapons spreading around the world and ending up at the hands of terrorists and criminal groups.”

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Biden says some countries will 'make their own accommodations' if Ukraine goes down

The American president also said US decisions in the next four years "are going to determine the future of Europe for a long time to come."

The US fears that some countries including Poland will start pursuing a more independent policy if Kiev is defeated in the conflict in Ukraine, according to US President Joe Biden’s interview with Time magazine.

"The point is, though, that if we ever let Ukraine go down, mark my words, you'll see Poland go, and you'll see all those nations along the actual border of Russia, from the Balkans and Belarus, all those, they're going to make their own accommodations," Biden said.

"That's why we cannot let NATO fail. We have to build that both politically and economically. And militarily, which we're investing significantly," he said.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin, at a meeting with the heads of world news agencies, expressed the opinion that the United States will get rid of Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky in about a year, after it fulfills a number of their demands.

First, according to the head of state, Kyiv will be forced to lower the mobilization age to 18 years.

"...then they will get rid of Zelensky. But all this must be done first, because this is not an easy story. The law must be adopted and certain steps must be taken. We are now in June 2024. To do all this, it seems to me, we need a year. Until spring, until the beginning of at least next year, they will tolerate him, and when he has done everything, they will say: “Goodbye.” - Putin

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Zakharova: Different departments are working to remove the Taliban from the list of terrorists.

“How will this be done? Experts, lawyers, legal specialists, international specialists, representatives of various departments are working on this issue, and the relevant procedures that are involved are being carried out,” she said on the sidelines of SPIEF.

In early August 2021, the Taliban stepped up their offensive against Afghan government forces , entered Kabul on August 15 , and declared the war over the next day. During the last two weeks of August, a mass evacuation of citizens of Western countries and Afghans collaborating with them took place from Kabul airport, which was under the protection of the American military.

On the night of August 31, the US military left Kabul airport, ending almost 20 years of US military presence in Afghanistan. At the beginning of September of the same year, the composition of the interim government of Afghanistan was announced, headed by Mohammad Hassan Akhund , who served as the head of the Foreign Ministry during the first reign of the Taliban* and has been under UN sanctions since 2001.

Last week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Russia was going to make a decision to remove the Taliban* from the list of terrorists. According to the special representative of the Russian President for Afghanistan, director of the second department of Asia of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Zamir Kabulov , the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation have completed the study of the issue of lifting the Taliban's status as a terrorist organization in Russia, the proposal has been sent to the Kremlin. The decision will be made by the President of the Russian Federation.

On June 5, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that it is necessary to build relations with the Taliban government*, there are contacts
The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum takes place from June 5 to 8.

* The organization is under UN sanctions for terrorist activities.

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Sanctions have become one of key factors of Russian economic growth — minister

According to the World Bank’s revised GDP assessment in terms of purchasing power parity in 2024, Russia was the world’s fourth-biggest economy on GDP in terms of purchasing power parity.

"Why did it happen so fast? I think it’s all sanctions’ fault," he said, adding that the process of economic growth "has accelerated."

The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) is being held on June 5-8. This year’s theme is "The Formation of New Areas of Growth as the Cornerstone of a Multipolar World." Scheduled events include meetings for small and medium-sized businesses, creative industries, the SPIEF Youth Day, as well as the Drug Security, SPIEF Academy and SPIEF Junior forums. SPIEF is organized by the Roscongress Foundation. TASS is the information partner of the event.

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